Monday, March 17, 2014

Visiting Puerto Caimito, Rivera's home town

"The home is gated, but not hidden. It
protrudes from the landscape on the left side of Calle Puerto Caimito
when you enter this underdeveloped town of fishermen, the lone road to
the shore along the Gulf of Panama, this village’s lifeline. If the
outsized dimensions and immaculate architecture is not enough, a Google
Maps search reveals the owner: Mariano Rivera.

Like the house, Rivera is not covert when he travels from his adopted
home in New Rochelle, N.Y., to occupy this residence in his hometown
along the southern coast of Panama. Residents say he walks down the
road, past his father and in-laws’ houses and the evangelical church
built with his money and the elementary school he attended for six
years, and greets his brethren with containers of toys for children.

At the end of the road, where the rocky path meets a shore populated
with crumbling boats and seafood vendors and a rundown youth center,
once stood a modest dwelling Rivera called home as a child. It no longer
exists, knocked down some time in the 24 years since he left for the
United States to launch an unlikely career with the New York Yankees
that concluded last September.

This week, Rivera, 44, returned to Panama and he brought the Yankees
and Marlins with him for the nation’s first major-league games since
1947.

Pride radiated throughout this village Saturday afternoon hours
before Rivera tossed the first pitch at Rod Carew Stadium 45 kilometers
away. Some planned on attending one of the two games, but most could not
afford a ticket and travel. Instead, most were going to watch them on
television. Fireworks were expected.

"He’s a figure we treasure," said Sergio Reyes, a local pastor, in
Spanish. "Not only because of what he represents as a baseball player,
but the values that he projects, what he represents for the children of
Panama."

"I cry seeing how he has gone from humble beginnings to reach
something so high," Sayuri Rivera, a cousin, said. "And not just here,
but on a worldwide level."

Flor Deliz Segura was two grades above Rivera at Escuela Victorino
Chacón, the local elementary school. She takes pride in pointing out
that she and Rivera are now, in a sense, related — she is an aunt of
Rivera’s oldest nephew and niece.

The two grew up a few houses away from each other playing on the same
street. She recalls Rivera fishing and chasing after iguanas. "He loved
iguanas," Segura said.

Now she has a nephew who pitches on the same district team — La
Chorrera — Rivera played on before he was signed by Yankees scout Herb
Raybourn for $3,000 after a 10-pitch tryout in his backyard. "He really appreciates Mariano and says he wants to be like Mariano Rivera," Segura said.

"To be honest, I never looked for it," said
Rivera, who caught the first pitch Sunday from retired boxer Roberto
Duran, perhaps the only athlete with more clout than Rivera in Panama.
"God made it for me. I loved sports, but I never did it intending to
sign professionally. God opened the door and took me to this moment. All
I can do is thank God for everything he’s done for me."

Part of Rivera’s mission this weekend was
to invigorate baseball in this nation of 3.8 million people at the youth
level. The country’s presence in the major leagues is dwindling — there
are currently four players from Panama on 40-man major-league rosters.

"I hope what this does is motivate the youth because there is a lot
of talent here in Panama," Rivera said. "They can be motivated to play
sports at the highest level in the major leagues. And prepare themselves
and move forward. I know a lot of them have dreams and I think this
could motivate them."

Active with church

Mariano Rivera’s presence at Iglesia de Dios de la Profecia is
immediately noticeable. In the foyer, on the wall to the right, hangs a
plaque and portrait honoring Rivera, presented to him during his visit
last month.

It is a sanctuary built on Rivera’s dime. Rivera donated $850,000 to
construct the building, which opened "six or seven years ago," Reyes,
the church’s pastor, estimates.

Rivera attends and preaches at the church whenever he can, Reyes
said, and holds various events. One last month attracted 1,000 people
from the town.

Rivera’s presence, residents say, extends beyond the church. He has
donated to the local health center and elementary school and regularly
meets with friends and family in the community.

One Sunday last month, Rivera invited the men in his family —
brothers, uncles and cousins — to his home for breakfast. He preached to
them — as he does sometimes to the congregation at Iglesia de Dios de
la Profecia.

"He’s treated us the same like always," Segura said. "He’s always been humble."

He was criticized for not playing for Panama in the inaugural World
Baseball Classic in 2006 and building his lavish home in an impoverished
area. Those naysayers have relented a bit recently as Rivera has
displayed a greater connection to the country.

"It’s just that people don’t want to understand," Segura said. "They
think everything he has should go to the people. But they’re wrong.
They’re wrong. He’s helped this town a lot."

The negative opinions were buried this weekend. Saturday night,
Rivera threw out the first pitch to the roar of 30,000 people in
attendance at Rod Carew Stadium. Thousands more attended yesterday’s
game, including 86 children from Puerto Caimito in three buses.

This afternoon, he’ll return to Puerto Caimito, also his wife Clara’s
hometown, for the fourth time in four months for an event at 2 p.m. to
complete his trip to Panama before returning to New York tomorrow. He is
expected to make donations. A village will be waiting.

"For us, he’s wonderful," Reyes said. "Mariano is a figure that has
given prestige to Puerto Caimito and Panama. So to have him here on a
day like this, and with the Yankees, is something wonderful. It’s
something excellent.""